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Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster
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Playability
70
Sound
73
Build
60
Value
68
Score
68
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Playability
67
Sound
74
Build
70
Value
60
Score
70
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Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster vs American Original 50s Stratocaster

Reasons to Get
Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster over American Original 50s Stratocaster

Release Year
2019 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Mid 60s C vs Fender Soft V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Pickups
SS vs SSS
Beautiful cleans
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.825'' (21mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.975'' (24.8mm) vs 0.99'' (25.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Avg. Weight
7.95lbs (3.6kgs) vs 7.969lbs (3.6kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
68 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster over Vintera 60s Jazzmaster

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Mexico
Built with higher quality standards
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Fender Soft V vs Mid 60s C
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
SSS vs SS
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.9'' (22.9mm) vs 0.825'' (21mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.99'' (25.1mm) vs 0.975'' (24.8mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster vs American Original 50s Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Jazzmaster vs Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Jazzmaster vs Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Pau Ferro vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster vs American Original 50s Stratocaster

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Number of Frets
21
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Vintage vs Vintage Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster Prices

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Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster is probably the better product overall with its final score of 70 compared to the Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster's 68 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster is the better choice.

The Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2019 Vintera series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 7.25" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Adjustable with “Floating” Tremolo Tailpiece bridge
  • Mid 60s C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Vintage frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight between 7.7lbs (3.5kgs) and 8.2lbs (3.7kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2018 American Original series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • 1-Piece Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Pure Vintage 6-Saddle Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • Fender Soft V Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Vintage Tall frets
  • Pure Vintage Single Line Fender Deluxe tuners
  • Weight between 7.938lbs (3.6kgs) and 8lbs (3.6kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster has an SS configuration while the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster has SSS pickups.

SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

On the other hand, SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

Pickups Quality

Both come with some of the top pickups on the market. You can't go wrong with either of them. You'll probably never need a pickup upgrade.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster's online:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster gives you 3. This means that the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster's switch options
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 68
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 73
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster compares to the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster is built in Mexico while the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster is made in United States.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster has a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

On the other hand, the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster's are Vintage-Style while the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster's are Pure Vintage Single Line Fender Deluxe

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster
  • Made in United States
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster
Quality of materials 51
Features 55
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 60
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster
Quality of materials 61
Features 55
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 70

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42mm (1.654'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster and Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster Neck Profile
Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster's neck profile
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster has a C type of neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

The Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster, on the other hand, has a V neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster's Fingerboard radius
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster favors large hands more than the Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster.

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster Frets Size
Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster's Frets Size
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster Frets Size
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster's Frets Size

The Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster has Vintage Tall frets, which should be taller than the Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster's Vintage frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 70
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 50
Playability 67

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster vs American Original 50s Stratocaster
General Fender Vintera 60s Jazzmaster American Original 50s Stratocaster
Brand: Fender Fender
Year: 2019 2018
Configuration: SS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico United States
Series: Vintera American Original
Colors: White, Blue White, Sunburst, Gray
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Adjustable with “Floating” Tremolo Tailpiece Pure Vintage 6-Saddle Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Pure Vintage Single Line Fender Deluxe
Fretboard: Pau Ferro 1-Piece Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Mid 60s C Fender Soft V
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.825'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.975'' (24.8mm) 1st Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm) - 12th Fret: 0.99'' (25.1mm)
Frets: 21 Vintage Nickel Silver 21 Vintage Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 7.25" 9.5"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 2 2